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Designation: F 840 83 (Reapproved 1998)e1

An American National Standard

Standard Specification for

Ladders, Fixed, Vertical, Steel, Ships1

This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 840; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

e1 NOTEKeywords were added editorially in November 1998.

1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers fabrication details for fixed,
vertical, steel ladders for personnel access on ships.
1.2 Nonferrous ladders and special-purpose ladders are
excluded from this specification.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

3.3 vertical laddera ladder which has an installed pitch

range from 75 to 90 (vertical).

2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A 36/A36M Specification for Carbon Structural Steel2
2.2 American Bureau of Shipping, Rules for Building and
Classing Steel Vessels:3
Section 43.3 Ordinary Strength Hull Structural Steel
Section 30 Welding
2.3 American Welding Society Standard:4
AWS D 1.1Structural Welding Code
2.4 Federal Standard:5
TT-P-645 Primer, Paint, Zinc Chromate, Alkyd Type

5. Ordering Information
5.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
the following:
5.1.1 Quantity,
5.1.2 Type (4.1), and applicable detail in Fig. 2,
5.1.3 Material (6.1),
5.1.4 Finish (8.2),
5.1.5 Dimensions a and b and L (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, or Fig. 3),
5.1.6 Number of rungs,
5.1.7 Welding specification (6.2),
5.1.8 Marking (Section 10), and
5.1.9 ASTM designation and date of issue.

4. Classification
4.1 Ladders are furnished in three types as follows:
4.1.1 Type INormal duty (Fig. 1).
4.1.2 Type IIPunched stringers (Fig. 2) as an alternate to
Type I.
4.1.3 Type IIIHeavy duty (Fig. 3). This type may be
specified in cargo holds where the cargo or equipment or
vehicles used to handle cargo could be expected to damage a
Type I or Type II ladder.

3. Definition of Terms Specific to This Standard

3.1 fixed laddera ladder permanently attached by welding
or bolting to ships structure or equipment.
3.2 pitchthe included angle between the horizontal and
the ladder, measured on the opposite of the ladder from the
climbing side.

6. Materials and Manufacture

6.1 Unless otherwise specified in ordering documents, steel
shall conform to the requirements of Specification A 36/
A 36M, ABS Section 43.3, or equal.
6.2 Unless otherwise specified in ordering documents,
welding shall conform to AWS D 1.1 or ABS Section 30.
7. Dimensions
7.1 The dimensions shall be in accordance with Figs. 1-3.
7.2 Dimensions are given in inches with metric conversion
in parentheses.

This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-25 on Ships

and Marine Technology and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F25.03 on
Outfitting.
Current edition approved Oct. 26, 1983. Published December 1983.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.04.
3
Available from American Bureau of Shipping, 2 World Trade Center, 106th
Floor, New York, NY 10048.
4
Available from American Welding Society, 550 N. Lajuene Rd., Miami, FL
33135.
5
Available from General Services Administration, Specifications Distribution
Branch, Bldg. 197, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC 20407.

8. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance

8.1 Ladders shall be free of splinters, sharp edges, burrs, and
weld spatters.

Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.

F 840 83 (1998)e1

FIG. 1 Vertical Ladder Type I (Normal Duty)

8.2 FinishUnless otherwise specified in ordering documents, ladders shall, after fabrication, be sand or shot blasted to
remove rust and scale and given a complete coat of zinc
chromate primer, Federal Specification TT-P-645.

number (from purchase order), ASTM designation number, and

manufacturers name. Marking may be by steel stamp, paint
stencil, or weatherproof tag.
11. Keywords

9. Inspection
9.1 Unless otherwise specified in ordering documents, all
ladders shall be visually inspected for workmanship, finish, and
appearance as defined in Section 8.

11.1 fixed ladders; ladders; marine; ship; steel ladders;

vertical ladders

10. Marking
10.1 Unless otherwise specified in ordering documents,
each ladder shall be marked with purchase-order number, item

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.

F 840 83 (1998)e1

FIG. 2 Vertical Ladder Type II (Punched Stringers) as an Alternative to Type I

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.

F 840 83 (1998)e1

FIG. 3 Vertical Ladder Type III (Heavy Duty)

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